Afghanistan Action Against Hunger April 2017 NEWSLETTER Present in Afghanistan for over 20 years, ACF works towards improving the nutritional status of children under 5 and pregnant and lactating women, through an integrated approach encompassing Nutrition, WASH, and Food Security and Livelihoods programming. This monthly newsletter provides an overview and insights on ACF programming across the country. For any further questions, please contact [email protected] www.actioncontrelafaim.org ACF Afghanistan Newsletter Apr 2017 EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM FOR NATURAL AND CONFLICT DISASTERS AFFECTED POPULATION IN GHOR AND HELMAND PROVINCES, AFGHANISTAN / ERM 6 Monthly Achievements Due to security constraints some assessments were postponed in rural areas of Ghor province; however the following activities were achieved: Helmand ERM team completed 3 joint assessments and selected eligible beneficiaries for assistance. The ERM team completed 2 distributions in Lashkargah; 101 conflict-induced IDPs received unconditional cash to meet their Food, NFI and winter needs including miscellaneous other needs. In Ghor, ACF led a joint assessment team conducting 3 assessments based on petition from the Department of Refugees and Repatriations (DoRR). The ERM team completed 3 distributions. A total of 49 households benefited from Cash for Food and winter topup, and all 49 households also benefited from NFIs in-kinds. In Daykundi, PU-AMI-led joint assessment team conducted 1 assessment based on notification and DoRR official petition to humanitarian organizations. After completion of the assessment, the ERM team did not find any IDPs eligible to respond. In Helmand and Ghor, 2 most vulnerable IDPs received ERM Individual Protection assistance to cover their daily needs considering food and other essential priorities. 22 others most vulnerable families’ members have been referred to different specialized organizations for getting proper support on their specific needs. Project duration: A project funded by May 2016 – Avril 2017 Target versus Achievements Global Monthly Cumulative % Achieved Activity Target Achieved Achieved (cumulative) (revised) # Assessments within 5 days after notification N/A 7 57 N/A # Response provided within 5 days after N/A 5 44 N/A assessment Cash distribution for 1 month food needs 3182 HH 24 2682 Cash distribution for NFI 150 HHs - - 90% Cash for Food and NFIs 644 HHs 0 162 Cash for NFI with Winter Pack 0 HHs 5 309 Cash for Food and NFI with Winter package 89 HHs 121 488 In-kind NFI distribution (Kitchen and Hygiene 688 HH 49 310 Kits) In-kind NFI distribution (Winter Package) 538HH 25 290 - IPA Assistance 390 IND - 0 - IPA Referral to PSN network 180 22 22 - Project duration: A project funded by May 2016 – Avril 2017 ACF Afghanistan Newsletter Apr 2017 INTEGRATED EMERGENCY NUTRITION AND WASH RESPONSE TO REDUCE EXCESS CHILD MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY IN HELMAND PROVINCE OF AFGHANISTAN Monthly Achievements In March 2017, two mobile teams were deployed in 8 locations. 959 under-five children (454 boys and 505 girls) were screened, out of which 10 (3 boys and 7 girls) were identified & referred to nearby Health facilities, 408 (225 boys and 183 girls) were provided with medical consultations for childhood illnesses, and 20 patients (9 boys and 11 girls) were successfully discharged. The treatment activities of the mobile teams were as usual complemented by preventive sensitization provided to caretakers: 110 men and 472 women received health education sessions on IYCF, micronutrients deficiencies and signs and symptoms of malnutrition. ACF health facility team conducted end line supportive supervision in 5 health facilities and provided on-the-job training to 20 health professionals (9 males and 11 females) on IMAM screening/referral systems implementation. Project duration: A project funded by July 2016 – March 2017 At the community level the construction of 4 new borehole, rehabilitation of 13 boreholes and fencing of all the boreholes for protection and proper management were completed. In the health facilities supported by ACF, hand-over ceremonies of construction and rehabilitation (2 gender- separated latrines, 1 incinerator, 3 waste pits, Rehabilitation of Water tank) was done in the presence of community leaders and key stakeholders (MRRD, ACTD). Twelve Water Safety and User Committees (WUSC) were trained on water point’s management. Two hand-washing facilities were provided to one health facilities. In seven villages where Community Lead Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach was implemented, Open Defecation Free (ODF) ceremony was conducted with PRRD CLTS committee participation; before the ceremony, the villages were declared ODF by PRRD. Water day was celebrated in school in which a session was conducted for teacher and students on Water, hygiene and iodine. Post Distribution Monitoring (PDM) for menstrual hygiene and BSF were done in the communities. Water analyses for BSF and water point was done within this month. Project duration: A project funded by July 2016 – March 2017 ACF Afghanistan Newsletter Apr 2017 EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO REDUCE MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY ASSOCIATED WITH CRITICAL RATES OF GLOBAL ACUTE MALNUTRITION AMONGST UNDER- FIVE CHILDREN IN IDP POPULATIONS OF HELMAND PROVINCE Monthly Achievement Two nutrition/Health mobile teams were deployed in 9 locations of Mukhtar IDP camp and surrounding areas. 1,742 under-five children (842 boys and 918 girls) were screened, 59 OPD-SAM patients (15 boys and 44 girls) were admitted in OPD-SAM program. The mobile team also provided IMCI consultation to 572 patients (296 boys and 276 girls) and referred 2 (1 boy and 1girl) complicated Sever Acute Malnutrition cases to Boost Hospital. Health education sessions were provided to 1,101 caretakers (207 males and 894 females) at the mobile site on IYCF, Micronutrients deficiencies, RUFT usage and signs and symptoms of malnutrition. For the WASH activities the procurement process is completed and the construction of waste zone, rehabilitation of water points, distribution Bio Sand Filter (BSF) and menstrual hygiene kit will start next month. Project duration: A project funded by Oct 2016 – Sept 2017 ACF Afghanistan Newsletter Apr 2017 MULTI-SECTORAL INTERVENTION BASED ON THE PROVISION OF DRINKING WATER, PROMOTION OF HYGIENE AND VERTICAL GARDENING PILOT FOR MonthlyPEOPLE LIVING Achievements IN KABUL INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS Monthly Achievement During the month of March, 399 Bio Sand Filters, BSF were distributed and installed. The team started water analysis for 5% of BSF; 6 tests from each BSF (3 inlet and 3 outlets) were completed. To ensure timely access to a sufficient quantity of safe drinking water, a total of 690 men and women were trained in the use of BSF. In addition, 824 menstrual hygiene Kits were distributed to the targeted women aged 14-49, in bags printed with a hand washing message. Key hygiene messages continued to be disseminated, reaching 98 target families including 670 men, women and children. Regarding the FSL component of the project, 5 vertical home gardens were constructed, distributed and cultivated as pilot activity. 50 beneficiaries household received trainings on home gardening cultivation in KIS. 4 types of seeds (Lettuce, red radish, coriander and squash) were cultivated in all 5 vertical gardens. Project duration: A project funded by Sept 2016 – June 2017 ACF Afghanistan Newsletter Apr 2017 ENHANCING COORDINATED HUMANITARIAN ASSESSMENTS, DATA QUALITY, SHARING AND UTILIZATION FOR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE PLANNING IN AFGHANISTAN Monthly Achievements SMART assessment in Samangan province was successfully implemented with Agency for Assisstance and Devolopment of Afghanistan (ADDA) from 27th February to 16th March 2017. In this assessment a total of 2681 individuals living in 628 households were assessed. Out of them 1057 were children aged from 0-59 months, 988 were children aged from 6-59 months and 680 were women in the childbearing age in the selected households. The survey finding shows that the prevalence of Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) was at 8.0% based on WHZ (6.3 - 10.2 95% C.I.); and at 6.0% (4.4 - 8.0 95% C.I.) based on MUAC. The situation is classified as ‘Poor’ according to WHO severity classification of acute malnutrition if referring to the prevalence of GAM based on WHZ. These caseloads are likely to be subject to emergency, with regards to the serious situation in the province (combined GAM by WHZ and MUAC and edema at 12.9 % (10.8- 14.9 95 CI)). On the other side combined burden of sever acute malnutrition (SAM) is at 6.1 % (4.6-7.6 95 CI) in Samangan province, considered to be emergency according to the interpretation of Afghanistan nutrition sector. SMART assessment is planned in April in Jawzjan and Nemroz province with Solidarity for Afghan Families, BPHS IP partners. Project duration: A project funded by Oct 2016 – Sept 2017 ACF Afghanistan Newsletter Apr 2017 EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO REDUCE MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY ASSOCIATED WITH CRITICAL RATES OF GLOBAL ACUTEMALNUTRITION AMONGST UNDER- FIVE CHILDREN IN IDP POPULATIONS OF KABUL Monthly Achievements As planned, the health and nutrition mobile teams conducted their routine visits from Kabul Informal Settlements (KIS). Based on the camp population, 4 mobile health and nutrition team visits are planned weekly or bi-weekly. The mobile health and nutrition teams conduct growth monitoring of children U5, IMCI consultations, SAM treatment and health educations. They also record the children detecting as MAM. Those children